Fulton County Obituary Records Search
Fulton County obituary and death records are maintained by the Fulton County Health Department in Rochester, Indiana. This north-central Indiana county keeps vital records going back to 1882 and offers several ways to request them. Notably, the Fulton County office can now issue birth certificates for anyone born in Indiana, not just Fulton County events. There are specific rules about payment and faxing records that you should know before submitting a request.
Fulton County Quick Facts
Fulton County Health Department - Vital Records
The Fulton County Health Department is at 125 E. 9th St., Suite 004 in Rochester, Indiana 46975. Call 574-223-2881 or fax to 574-223-2335. The vital records page is at co.fulton.in.us/309/Vital-Records. The health department's main page is at fultoncountyhealthdept.com/vital-statistics.
Walk-in hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Death certificates cost $15 each. Genealogy searches for 1 to 5 names cost $10. Genealogy searches for more than 5 names cost $20. Paternity affidavit requests cost $25 and require an appointment. Personal checks are not accepted. Use cash, a money order, or pay by credit or debit card when you call in your request by phone.
One important rule in Fulton County: valid certificates cannot be faxed. The raised seal on a certified copy will not transmit through a fax machine, making the document invalid. If someone asks you to fax a certified copy, you need to send it by mail or deliver it in person instead. This is worth knowing if you are using a death certificate for a legal or financial transaction.
| Address | 125 E. 9th St., Suite 004, Rochester, IN 46975 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 574-223-2881 |
| Fax | 574-223-2335 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Death Certificate Fee | $15 per copy |
| Genealogy (1-5 names) | $10 |
| Genealogy (over 5 names) | $20 |
| Payment | Cash, money order, or credit/debit card by phone |
| Website | co.fulton.in.us/309/Vital-Records |
The image below shows the Indiana Department of Health's death information page, which covers the legal basis for fees and the access rules that apply to Fulton County death certificate requests.
Visit the Indiana Department of Health death information page for details on rules and fees that cover Fulton County obituary and death record requests.
This page explains IC 16-37-1-11 and the non-refundable search fee that applies to all Indiana death certificate orders, including those from Fulton County.
How to Request Fulton County Death Records
Walk-in service at the Rochester office is the most direct route. Come Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Bring photo ID. Pay with cash or a money order since personal checks are not accepted at the walk-in window. The fee is $15 for a certified death certificate. Staff can process your request during your visit for records available in the county's files going back to 1882.
Phone ordering is also an option in Fulton County. Call 574-223-2881 during business hours and pay by credit or debit card over the phone. This is a useful option if you cannot come in person and want to pay with a card. The office can then mail the certificate to you. Processing time for phone orders may be longer than walk-in service.
Mail requests are available as well. Send a completed application, a copy of your photo ID, and a money order to 125 E. 9th St., Suite 004, Rochester, IN 46975. Personal checks are not accepted by mail either. Processing time for mail orders is the longest option. Online orders can go through VitalChek with additional service fees. Remember: do not fax valid certified copies, as the raised seal will not transmit properly and the copy becomes invalid.
Under IC 16-37-1-11, the search fee is non-refundable whether or not a record is found.
Who Can Access Fulton County Obituary Records
Certified death certificates require a direct interest in the record. Indiana law defines this as immediate family members, legal representatives, and authorized agents. Bring government-issued photo ID and documentation of your relationship to the deceased. Qualifying family members include spouses, parents, children, grandchildren, siblings, aunts, and uncles.
Genealogy searches are available at tiered pricing. For up to 5 names, the cost is $10. For more than 5 names, the cost is $20. This tiered structure makes Fulton County one of the more transparent counties for genealogy pricing. If you are doing extensive family history research in Fulton County, the over-5 rate of $20 for a batch search is a reasonable value. Records go back to 1882 and include births and deaths for events occurring in Fulton County.
Under IC 5-14-3, basic death record information is open to the public. Name, gender, age, and place of death are accessible. Full certified copies require meeting the direct interest standard. Genealogy copies are non-certified and available for records more than 75 years old.
State and Genealogy Resources for Fulton County
The Indiana Department of Health at 2 North Meridian Street in Indianapolis holds statewide death records from 1900 and can issue certified Fulton County death certificates. Phone: 317-233-2700. Online orders go through VitalChek. Mail orders use Form 49606 from in.gov/health/vital-records/order-now. State fees are $8 for the first copy and $4 for additional copies of the same record.
The Indiana Legacy database is free online and has over 5 million indexed records including obituary entries, death records, and cemetery data for Fulton County. The Hoosier State Chronicles digital newspaper archive holds Rochester-area papers with older Fulton County obituary notices. Both resources are free to search and are good starting points for genealogy research before paying for a certified copy.
The Indiana State Library Genealogy Division at 317-232-3689 holds county research guides and family history materials. The Indiana State Archives at 317-591-5222 holds original government records from all Indiana counties including Fulton. Under IC 16-37-3-9, Fulton County's local health officer maintains a permanent death register from every certificate filed since 1882.
Fulton County Clerk Records
The Fulton County Clerk in Rochester holds marriage records, divorce filings, and probate court documents. Probate filings begin after a death and document the legal process of distributing a person's assets. Marriage records from the clerk help establish family connections when you need to show your qualifying relationship to request a death certificate. Contact the Fulton County Courthouse in Rochester to reach the clerk and ask about hours and fees for these records.
Paternity affidavit requests at the Fulton County Health Department require an appointment and cost $25. If you are handling paternity-related matters in connection with an estate or death, call 574-223-2881 in advance to schedule. These requests cannot be processed on a walk-in basis in Fulton County.
Cities in Fulton County
Rochester is Fulton County's county seat and largest community. No cities in Fulton County have a population over 25,000. All death records and obituary records for Fulton County are handled through the health department in Rochester.
Nearby Counties
Fulton County is in north-central Indiana and borders several counties. Each has a health department for local death records and obituary requests.